TL;DR
- Itching after shaving is a sign of skin irritation, not of a good shave
- Causes: a blunt blade, dry skin, no protection, too much friction
- Preparation and hydration largely solve it
- A single blade shaves more gently and causes less itching afterwards
Smooth shave. But that itch afterwards…
You shave your legs or armpits, everything seems to go well and then it starts. That annoying tingling or itching, half an hour or an hour after shaving. Not painful, but irritating enough to remind you of it.
Good news: itching after shaving can almost always be prevented.
What causes that itch?
Itching after shaving is a reaction of the skin to irritation. The most common causes:
- A blunt blade. A blunt blade doesn't cut; it pulls. That damages tiny skin cells and triggers an itch reaction.
- Dry skin. If your skin contains little moisture, it recovers more slowly after shaving. Dry skin itches more often and more quickly.
- No protection. Shaving without a shaving bar or soap means your blade scrapes directly across your skin. That irritates.
- Too much pressure or too fast. Shaving in a hurry with too much pressure damages the top layer of skin more than necessary.
- Hairs growing back. When hairs grow back through the skin, it can cause a slight itchy feeling. That can't be avoided, but you can soothe it.
- Dryness after shaving. If you don't apply anything after your shave, your skin loses moisture and becomes tighter and itchier.
How do you prevent itching after shaving?
1. Start with a warm shower
Warm water softens your skin and loosens your pores. Hydrated, warm skin reacts more mildly to shaving.
2. Always use a shaving bar
A shaving bar creates a protective layer of lather on your skin. That layer provides glide and protection at the same time. The jojoba oil and shea butter in the WONDR shaving bars hydrate your skin while you shave.
3. No pressure. Really.
Especially with a safety razor: the weight of the razor does the work. The less pressure, the less irritation, the less itching.
4. Replace your blade on time
A sharp blade cuts cleanly. A blunt blade pulls and irritates. Replace your blade every week with regular use. With WONDR blades that costs € 1.99 for 5 — so that's not the problem.
5. Cool down after shaving
Rinse your skin with cold water afterwards. That soothes it and closes the pores. Pat dry, don't rub.
6. Hydrate, always
Apply a body butter after shaving. Well-hydrated skin recovers faster, feels softer and itches less. This is the step most people skip, but it makes the biggest difference.
And if you still have an itch?
Don't scratch. That irritates the skin even more. Apply cool water, followed by a soothing cream or body butter. Don't shave over the irritated area again until the skin has recovered.
Does the itch keep coming back, even after improving your routine? Then it may help to switch to a shaving bar for sensitive skin — such as the Tea Time Shaving Bar with green tea and aloe vera — or to try a safety razor with a single blade instead of a multi-blade.
Shaving without the itch afterwards.
→ Tea Time Shaving Bar — sensitive skin — €11.95
→ Fresh Larch Shaving Bar — all skin types — €11.95
→ Shaving Moment bundle — €55.62 instead of €61.80
